All Bout' Japan

Japanese Nobles Create Great Art:

The nobles who followed Japan's emperor to Heian wanted to win his favor by living close to him. In Heian, these nobles created an imperial court, a group of nobles who live near and serve and advise the ruler. Members of the noble court had little to do with the common people of Heian, and they lived apart from poorer citizens and seldom left of the city. These nobles enjoyed their lives were so easy and so removed from the rest of Japan that many nobles called themselves " dwellers among the clouds."

Fashion:

The nobles' love beauty began with their own appearances. They had magnificent wardrobes full of silk robes and gold jewelry. Nobles loved elaborate outfits. For example, women wore long gowns made of 12 layers of colored silk cleverly cut and folded to show off many layers at once. To complete heir outfits, nobles often carried delicate decorative fans.

Literature:

Japanese nobles took great care with how they spoke and wrote. Writing was very popular among nobles, especially women since they wrote in diaries. Men would write in Chinese and women would write in Japanese. As a result, many of the greatest works of early Japanese literature were written by women.

Visual Art:

The most popular art forms of the period were paintings, calligraphy, and architecture. When the nobles of Heian would paint, they liked to tell stories and use bright colors. Some paintings showed scenes from nature or from court life. Many artists painted on doors and furniture rather than paper.

Literature:

Japanese nobles took great care with how they spoke and wrote. Writing was very popular among nobles, especially women since they wrote in diaries. Men would write in Japanese and women in Chinese. As a result, many of the greatest works of early Japanese literature were written by women.